It’s not exactly good vs. evil but maybe cool vs. jerky?
Some players you like because they’re great. Grant Hill was a superb all around player. Zion Williamson would do spectacular things.
Some guys you pull for because they develop over time and you pull for them. Think Jack White or Nick Horvath.
Some guys you pull for because they just have relentless spirit. Bobby Hurley. Grayson Allen. Matt Jones.
And some guys you just pull for because they’re so likable. And one of the most likable guys who’s ever come through Duke was Antonio Lang. He was just a decent, nice guy.
He got to the NBA though not for long. But he did get there long enough to have a highlight that he might still think about.
In this game against the Jordan-era Bulls, Lang, who was playing for Cleveland, gets the ball on the right side of the lane and takes it in against Dennis Rodman. He gets a major slam in Rodman’s face and Rodman, being Rodman, shoves him.
It’s the kind of memory you can tell people for the rest of your life. “Yeah, he was Rodman and I didn't stick all that long, but I threw one down in his face.”
Only being a truly nice man, Lang would probably not brag like that.
